Dentistry-Online

An overview of prosthetics

introduction

If a lot of hard tooth substance is lost, that's it Enamel and the Dentine meant, or even to the loss of one or more teeth, comes dental prosthetics, i.e. the dentures, in the game.

The goal is the state in front to restore the loss or to find suitable dentures for the main functions of the dentition - the Chew, the Sound formation, as well as the aesthetics - restore. The spectrum of prosthetic restoration ranges from a so-called inlay, which is similar to a filling, to a full denture that replaces the entire set of teeth.

Difference between fixed and removable dentures

In prosthetics, a fundamental distinction is made between fixed and removable dentures. Fixed dentures are placed in the mouth in such a way that the person affected cannot take them out of their own mouth. He will e.g. cemented or glued. In contrast, as the name suggests, removable dentures can be removed from the mouth yourself. The prostheses are held in place by various holding elements such as clamps or, in the best case, they attach themselves to the palate or the ridge of the lower jaw through the saliva.

Removable dentures include:

Klammer-MEG
Full denture

Fixed dentures include:

Veneer
inlay
Partial crown
Crown
bridge
Implant

Combinations are also possible. This is how one understands fixed - removable Dentures e.g. dentures anchored via double crowns. The remaining teeth are firmly crowned here, but the actual dentures can still be removed.

The inlay

An inlay is a so-called Insert filling. If the tooth is destroyed by caries, but there is still enough hard tooth substance to guarantee adequate static, you can usually put a filling. In the case of the inlay, the material that fills the hole is not introduced in a deformable state, as is the case with composites (plastics), but a suitable “replacement part” is produced, which fits exactly into the resulting shape. This is then glued or cemented into the hole. There are gold and ceramic inlays.

Learn more about: Gold inlay and ceramic inlay

The veneer

If the shape and color of a front tooth, i.e. one of the front teeth that catch the eye when smiling and speaking, deviates from the patient's wishes, it is possible to apply so-called "veneers". Veneers are thin ceramic shells that, after a thin layer of the tooth has been removed, are glued to the front of the tooth and thus correct undesired deviations in the shape and color of the tooth.

Here you can find out everything about: Veneer

The partial crown

If caries only partially destroys the tooth crown, but to a greater extent than is the case with an inlay filling, you do not have to replace the entire tooth crown with a crown, but have the option of making a partial crown. This replaces parts of the natural tooth crown. It usually covers one side of the tooth completely, similar to a crown, while the other, undamaged side of the tooth can remain. As with an inlay and a crown, the tooth is ground into a certain shape after the caries has been removed so that a precisely matching partial crown can be produced in the laboratory, which is then cemented in or glued.

The tooth crown

If a tooth is so weakened by caries or other circumstances that the natural crown is destroyed, it can be replaced with an artificial crown. The dentist grinds the tooth in a certain shape and removes all destroyed or carious areas so that a new tooth crown can be attached to the resulting stump. The crown can be made of metal compounds, which can also be coated in tooth color, or made of ceramic.The crown is made in the dental laboratory and then cemented or glued onto the tooth stump.

Read on here: The tooth crown

The dental bridge

If a tooth that is bounded by two teeth is lost, it can be replaced by inserting a bridge. To do this, the neighboring teeth, i.e. those that border the gap, are ground. As with the crown, the crowns of these teeth are replaced. The bridge consists of the two crowns of the neighboring teeth and a connecting so-called bridge element, which replaces the lost tooth. As with a bridge, we have bridge piers and the link that spans the gap. There is also the option of replacing multiple teeth with a bridge. Normally you have to grind several teeth and use them as stabilizing bridge piers. There are also other types of dental bridges (e.g. a cantilever bridge or an adhesive bridge).

Learn more about the topic: Dental bridge as a denture

The denture

If several teeth have been lost, dentures can replace them. A distinction is made between partial and full dentures. If there are still teeth in the jaw, a partial denture is made that is attached to the remaining teeth. It is a matter of removable Dentures. A full denture is also a removable denture. This is used in the completely toothless jaw, i.e. when there are no longer any teeth in the affected jaw. Colloquially it is also called "denture" known. It is held by the suction of the saliva and the interaction of the surrounding muscles.

Also read the articles on the topic: The denture and temporary denture

The Klammer MEG

In the case of a clasp model cast in one piece (claspMEGProsthesis) is a partial prosthesis, the basic structure of which as well as the holding elements consist of a cast metal connection. With other partial dentures, the brackets that attach the denture to the rest of your own teeth are made of wires that are bent by the technician.

In the case of a model cast prosthesis, the brackets are modeled from wax on the model and transferred to metal so that they fit flat against the tooth. Apart from that, you can often do without large parts of the plastic base with the model cast prosthesis and thus offer the tongue and the palate more freedom, which is perceived as pleasant.